Prevalence of Computer Vision Syndrome and Associated Factors among Instructors in Ethiopian Universities: A Web-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: In this globalized and high-tech era, the computer has become an integral part of daily life. A constant use of computer for 3 hours and more per day can cause computer vision syndrome (CVS), which is one of the leading occupational hazards of the 21st century. The visual difficulties are the most common health problems associated with excessive computer use. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of CVS among instructors working in Ethiopian universities. METHODS: A web-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 422 university instructors in Ethiopia from February 02 to March 24, 2021. A structured and self-administered questionnaire prepared by Google Forms was shared among instructors through their e-mail addresses, Facebook, and Telegram accounts. Data cleanup and cross-checking were done before analysis using SPSS version 23. A multivariable logistic regression was applied to identify factors associated with CVS using p value <0.05 and 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: Of the total 416 participants, about 293 (70.4%) were reported to have CVS (95% CI: 65.9-74.5%), of which 54.6% were aged 24-33 years. Blurred vision, pain in and around the eye, and eye redness were the main symptoms reported. Working in third-established universities (AOR = 8.44, 95% CI: 5.47-21.45), being female (AOR = 2.69, 95% CI: 1.28-5.64), being 44 years old and above (AOR = 2.73, 95% CI: 1.31-5.70), frequently working on the computer (AOR = 5.51, 95% CI: 2.05-14.81), and sitting in bent back position (AOR = 8.10, 95% CI: 2.42-23.45) were the factors associated with computer vision syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, nearly seven-tenths of instructors in Ethiopian universities reported having symptoms of computer vision syndrome. Working in third-generation universities, being female, age, frequently working on the computer, and sitting in bent back position were statistically significant predictors in computer vision syndrome. Therefore, optimizing exposure time, addressing ergonomic hazards associated with computer usage through on-the-job and off-the-job training, and making the safety guidelines accessible for all university instructors would be critical to address the problem.

Predictors of Intestinal Parasites among Food Handlers in Goba Town, Southeast Ethiopia, 2020.

Background: Globally, around 1.9 million people were dying due to food-borne diseases annually, and intestinal parasites infected one-third of the population, according to estimates and more prevalent in developing countries due to poverty. This study assessed predictors of intestinal parasites among food handlers working in Goba towns. Methods: A laboratory-based cross-sectional study was conducted from October to December 2020. Clean, dry, and leak-proof stool cups were used to collect the samples. The SPSS version 20 computer software was used to enter and clean the data, code it, and analyze it. The researchers performed binary and multivariable logistic regression analyses, with a p value of 0.05 considered significant. Result: A total of 98 (34%) of the 288 food workers tested positive for various intestinal parasites. Giardia lamblia was the most common parasite, with 42 (14.6%), followed by Entamoeba histolytica/dispar with 31 (10.8%), Ascaris lumbricoides with 8 (2.8%), Taenia species with 5 (1.7%), and E. vermicularis with 4 (1.4%). Six (2%) of the 98 positive food handlers had two infections. E. histolytica and G. lamblia were the most common parasites found in mixed infections. Hand washing with soap and water before handling food (AOR: 3.06, 95% CI: 1.16, 7.26) and untrimmed fingernail status (AOR: 2.3, 95% CI: 1.14, 4.34) were found to be strongly linked to intestinal parasite infection. Conclusion: In this investigation, intestinal parasite species were found in 34% of stool samples. Independent predictors of intestinal parasite infection were fingernail status and hand washing with water and soap use before food handling. To control intestinal parasite infection among food handlers in the research area, personal hygiene and ambient cleanliness should be improved.

Utilization of Health Facility-Based Delivery Service Among Mothers in Gindhir District, Southeast Ethiopia: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

Facility-based delivery service is recognized as intermediation to reduce complications during delivery. Current struggles to reduce maternal mortality in low-and-middle income countries, including Ethiopia, primarily focus on deploying skilled birth attendants and upgrading emergency obstetric care services. This study was designed to assess utilization of health facility-based delivery service and associated factors among mothers who gave birth in the past 2 years in Gindhir District, Southeast Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study design was conducted in Gindhir District from March 1 to 30, 2020, among 736 randomly selected mothers who gave birth in the past 2 years. A multistage sampling technique was used to select the study participants and a pretested, structured questionnaire was used to collect data through face-to-face interviews. The collected data were managed and analyzed using SPSS version 23. Of the 736 mothers interviewed, 609 (82.7%), 95% CI: 80.1, 85.5%, of them used health facilities to give birth in the past 2 years for their last delivery. Mothers who lived in rural areas had 4 or more ANC visits, received 3 or more doses of the TT vaccine, and had good knowledge of maternal health services were found to have a statistically significant association with facility-based delivery service utilization. In Gindhir District, mothers have been using health facility-based delivery services at a high rate for the past 2 years. Higher ANC visits and TT vaccine doses, as well as knowledge of maternal health services and being a rural resident, were all linked to using health facility-based delivery services. As a result, unrestricted assistance must be provided to mothers who have had fewer ANC visits and have poor knowledge on maternal health services.

Trends of unsuccessful treatment outcomes and associated factors among tuberculosis patients in public hospitals of Bale Zone, Southeast Ethiopia: A 5-year retrospective study.

INTRODUCTION: Tuberculosis (TB) is a curable disease caused by the tubercle bacillus and its treatment is designed to cure, interrupt transmission, and prevent drug resistance. These aims have not yet been achieved in many regions of the world, particularly in developing countries like Ethiopia. Thus, this study was designed to assess the trends of unsuccessful treatment outcomes and associated factors among patients with TB in two public hospitals in the Bale zone, southeast Ethiopia. METHODS: A 5-year retrospective data among 1281 patients with TB who registered and started treatment (from July 2013 to June 2018/19) in two selected Bale zone hospitals was retrieved. Together with descriptive statistics, binomial and multinomial logistic regression modeling were carried out using STATA version 14 to estimate the odds ratio. RESULTS: The overall unsuccessful TB treatment outcomes in this study was 10.4% and moderately decreased over the year of treatment (from 14.1% to 8.4%, x2 = 7.35, and p = 0.011). Approximately 34 (7.6%) of pulmonary positive and 34 (7.4%) of pulmonary negative TB patients had experienced treatment failure and death, respectively. The level of the hospital, patients with smear-negative and extrapulmonary, transferred in, aged, and human immunodeficiency virus status were found to have a statistically significant association with unsuccessful treatment outcomes of patients with TB. CONCLUSION: In this study, approximately one-tenth of patients with TB had unsuccessful treatment outcomes that moderately declined over the year of treatment. Strengthening control efforts like counseling during the intensive and continual phases of treatment and scheduling home visits is recommended.

Anemia and Associated Factors Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care at Madda Walabu University Goba Referral Hospital, Bale Zone, Southeast Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Globally, anemia is a public health problem, particularly in developing countries, including Ethiopia. Pregnant women are at a higher risk for anemia and anemic pregnant women often develop complications. Early diagnosis of pregnant women for anemia saves both the life of the newborn and hers. Therefore, the present study intended to assess anemia and its associated factors among pregnant women attending at Madda Walabu University Goba referral hospital. METHODS: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April 3 to May 3, 2019, among pregnant women attending Madda Walabu University Goba referral hospital. A total of 353 respondents were included in the study by using systematic random sampling techniques. Data were collected using both face-to-face interview and hemoglobin measurement. The collected data were entered into SPSS and analyzed using both bi-variable and multiple logistic regressions. Finally, statistical significance was declared at a p-value of less than 0.05 in the multiple logistic regressions. RESULTS: In this study, the prevalence of anemia was 46.2% (95%CI: 40.9%, 51.5%). Factors significantly associated with anemia were positive stool examination for parasites (AOR=2.9, 95%CI 1.255-6.856), lower consumption of fruits and vegetables (AOR=2.7, 95%CI 1.47-4.86), no iron supplementation (AOR=2.2, 95%CI 1.07-4.45), large family size (AOR=2.1, 95%CI 1.13-3.77), and absence of abortion history (AOR=0.4, 95%CI 0.24-0.77). CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATION: Prevalence of anemia among pregnant women was high. Pregnant women with a previous history of abortion, positive stool for parasite, lower consumption of fruits and vegetables, no iron supplementation and large family size above five were risk factors for anemia. Therefore, encouraging pregnant women to take iron supplementation and to eat fruits and vegetables are important.